I would like to take this break in pertinent info, to give a summary of what is going on in hi end audio design. First, tubes still rule as far as a certain kind of audio perfection that seems almost impossible any other way. Even now, I do not know why this is so, but having a tube in the audio path seems to forgive a number of 'sins' in audio reproduction, but as I said recently to a fellow designer, Bascom King, of both PS and Constellation that I will muddle on with fets as best as possible, without adding a tube or two. It is one of the mysteries in audio design as to why tubes still are useful, even necessary.
Audio designers both young and old are still working hard to make 'better sounding' products, because we know that ABX testing sucks, and we use our ears, as well as measurements, to evaluate our and our competitors products. However, we are looking for more sophisticated measurements, other than harmonic or simple IM distortion, because they only go so far in giving us what we need. In any case, there is still room out there to improve audio quality in the electronics and we still find it exciting to seek it.
Audio designers both young and old are still working hard to make 'better sounding' products, because we know that ABX testing sucks, and we use our ears, as well as measurements, to evaluate our and our competitors products. However, we are looking for more sophisticated measurements, other than harmonic or simple IM distortion, because they only go so far in giving us what we need. In any case, there is still room out there to improve audio quality in the electronics and we still find it exciting to seek it.
Another friend of mine bought a Manly tube amplifier the other day on the EL84 / 6P14P. I told him that on such lamps I listened to fairy tales recorded on LP phonograph records as a child when I was 5 years old. I will have to visit him to remember how beautiful these tales sounded ...
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https://31.img.avito.st/640x480/6253803131.jpg
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"She said her stereo was 4-way - and I'd just love it in her room"
I probably would have, but never got invited... So I settled for a Marantz Quadradial 4 (I bought off a friend) and built my first 4 identical DIY speakers to match. I was 18, had no decoders nor source material, think I set up the whole thing once and went back to two channel when I went off to college...because it was just too bulky.
I probably would have, but never got invited... So I settled for a Marantz Quadradial 4 (I bought off a friend) and built my first 4 identical DIY speakers to match. I was 18, had no decoders nor source material, think I set up the whole thing once and went back to two channel when I went off to college...because it was just too bulky.
John, the way you say that makes it sound like any old tube operating at any old plate voltage, etc., will do. Was that your meaning?
MBL Noble Line N11 line preamplifier | Stereophile.com . Intriguing product. Batsrad expensive, yup. Designer has all the buzz words to get the reviewer drooling, yup (although silk screen colour affecting sound is stretching is a bit). And yet the measured performance is absolutely superb. Shame its about 10x the price a line stage should be.
I saw that a few days ago. Looking at the max output swing, I’d say its almost certainly opamp based (797? Maybe one of the newer JFET input types?).
The low distortion levels are very good. I know how hard it is to get mains related noise below -110 dBV in a full feature line preamp - the MBL is superb in this regard.
BUT, it will still not be good enough for some.
I think the comments about matching that Reiss makes are spot on.
The low distortion levels are very good. I know how hard it is to get mains related noise below -110 dBV in a full feature line preamp - the MBL is superb in this regard.
BUT, it will still not be good enough for some.
I think the comments about matching that Reiss makes are spot on.
John, could you enlighten us as to what, say, the top 5 "sins" are, that you are saying get alleviated by having "a tube in the audio path"?
I have a couple pieces currently for sale that have the "tube in the audio path" and I'm interested in what I may be giving up by eliminating these from the equipment stable. Thanks.
And this.😕
" and determined what kind of silk screen on the printed circuit board would create the sound that would best fit Noble Line target customers."
"With "Unity Gain" activated, a 2V input signal—full-scale according to the CD Standard—results in a 2V signal to the power amp with the N11's volume set to 70."
Assuming the volume control goes to 100, that is not unity gain.
Assuming the volume control goes to 100, that is not unity gain.
I was thinking more about the bit about speakers, room etc.
You should know me well enough to know I don't believe in bs . . .
😉
I think that everybody should look at the reviews and specs of the latest products in Stereophile. They are excellent examples of electronic engineering, as well as 'fit and finish'. Their measurements are exemplary! I will never achieve such low measurements, partially because I don't use high negative feedback values in my circuits. Not getting very low measurements are the price that I pay for this, I will always measure somewhat worse than these examples by MBL and Classe A reviewed in the July issue. Am I wrong to go in the opposite direction toward NO loop feedback, or low loop feedback? We shall see in the overall listening results, done by a number of listeners all over the world. We should get some realistic feedback from listeners in time. I want to know the results.
John,
Have ever thought of building a hybrid amp (Like Vincent for example) that would combine the best of both worlds?
Have ever thought of building a hybrid amp (Like Vincent for example) that would combine the best of both worlds?
